List of Mines with Serious Safety Records Overlooked by MSHA
NOTE: This list has been updated to include the entire list of mines with serious safety records overlooked by MSHA.The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration today released a partial list of mines removed from the potential pattern of violation list by the agency because of resource constraints. MSHA omitted two mines in the list because the agency is currently inspecting those mines.
Last week, the Department of Labor Inspector General’s office reported to Chairman Miller that several mines with serious safety problems were removed by MSHA. U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) asked the Inspector General in April to investigate MSHA’s procedures after MSHA disclosed that a computer error excluded the Upper Big Branch Mine from being notified that the mine may be under a so-called ‘pattern of violations’ (POV) sanctions. Mines identified as having a ‘pattern of violations’ are considered serial violators of health and safety protections.
Complete list of mines identified by OIG as not on PPOV status due to resource limits (updated July 1, 2010):
- Sentinel Mine, International Coal Group Inc (ICG), Wolf Run Mining Company
- No. 1 Mine (Now Bronzite III), Wolford Jeffrey (CONSOL Energy Inc), Jacob Mining LLC (Consol of Kentucky Inc)
- Justice #1, Massey Energy Co., Independence Coal Co.
- Black Castle Mining Co., Massey Energy Co., Elk Run Coal Co.
- Coalburg No. 2 Mine, Richard H. Abraham, Rio Group, Inc.
- Copley Trace Surface Mine, James H. Booth, Argus Energy WV, LLC
- Pond Creek Mine No. 1, Robert Helton, KWV Operations LLC
- Deep Mine No. 8, James H. Booth, Argus Energy WV, LLC
- Mine No. 6 (Now Laurel Fork Mine), Dick J. Plaster (CONSOL Energy Inc), Harvest-Time Coal Inc (Consolidation Coal Company )